Tokyo Olympic Trials- Nigerian Athlete sets eyes on Olympic Medal after Tying World Record for the Second Fastest Women’s 100m
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Blessing Okagbare
Blessing Okagbare competed at the USATF Grand Prix, in the 100m round of the Tokyo Olympic trials, where she shocked the world and created history. The 32 year old Nigerian ran the 100m sprint in a mind blowing 10.63s, tying the second fastest time run by any woman in 100m.
Okagbare tied Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s 2021 world lead of 10.63s at the Sports Complex of the Yaba College of Technology. She broke the Nigerian and African records as well at the Olympic trials on Thursday. She beat her previous best of 10.79s and became the joint second-fastest woman of all time behind 100 metres world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 10.49s.
Olympic Trials- After failing to make the finals at the Rio Olympics, Okagbare has a renewed sense of confidence
After creating history, Okagbare told the Nigerian Guardian, “Since the start of this season, I see myself as very ready. I feel healthy, stronger and like the real Blessing Okagbare again. I am really happy that this time came down today; it will boost my confidence, my faith and my trust in God. I just hope this same thing happens at the Olympics.”
“I have been working on everything and I hope it counts at the big stage, that’s the Olympics,” Okagbare said. “I have to go to the Olympics, do better than I did or better still replicate it. You might not need to run like this to win the Olympics; at the Games, you just want to get to the finish line.”
Okagbare has not raced in any major international event since 2015, and many people thought that she would not be able to better her time any more. However she bolted out of the blue to secure herself a spot in the finals of the Nigerian Olympic trials. If she keeps up her consistency, she is definitely looking to win a medal the the Tokyo Olympics this year.
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Saivee Phatak
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